How do I get into Summer SURF programs for research? Do I have a viable shot?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>So I want to apply to the SURF programs for next Summer that do summer research to get more research experience before I shoot myself off to medical school. I hear they're very competitive, and I want to do what I can to get in. Here are some of the stats that I'll have by the time I apply, do you think they're good enough? What should I improve? I'm around the Houston area and I'll be applying for Surfs at UTSW, Baylor, TCOM, Rice, MD Anderson Cancer Center and out of state schools.</p>

<p>EDIT: As a premed, I'm more biased towards Medical Institutions like BCM/UTSW than I am for colleges/universities.</p>

<p>Socioeconomics: upper middle class, white, undergraduate student
-GPA: 3.9
-Science GPA: 3.96
-I can program in C, MATLAB, Mathematica, and LabVIEW
-1 year NSF sponsored research in Genetics
-Can run statistical models and stochastic models
-Gave a talk on an on campus conference and won an award for a poster presentation for a mini project in latter research
-Gave a talk to a local HS in front of administrators and faculty about my project on ^
-LORs from mentor for NSF research. Highly cited Geneticist. Took 5 classes in bio with him and will take a 6th, graduate level in computational biostatistics. That class is for end of year Master's students who are getting ready to enter their PhD stage and ensue thesis defense. Another LOR from my planned mentor in the dash below. Third LOR from a math professor.
-Starting cancer research (cytoskeletal engineering), will have ~250 hours at the time of application
-Went to research conferences out of state paid by NSF but did not present</p>

<p>I have other volunteering, etc. and employment as a bio tutor at a CC for 3 years. </p>

<p>You think I can get in a decent SURF? What can I improve? I really want to get into a good SURF to make connections with academics and or MDs outside of the shadowing that I do. T</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>My D. was not able to get into Summer Research program with GPA = 4.0 and she applied at the place that she had very good references because she was working there in the Med. Research Lab for 2 summers in HS. Nope, did not happen. So, she pursued Med. Research opportunity at her college and it was a piece of cake, got in right away, was interning for 3 years (during school year), got great LOR and person in charge nominated her and few of her friends for KBP. I would strongly advise to pursue Med. Research at your college. D’s was un-paid, so there was a disadvantage, however, all other benefits were great and D. worked while at college anyway (as most of her pre-med friends).<br>
In D’s case, nothing she could improve to get in, it would require ONLY connections, which she had, but apparently not enough, I mean, she did not have a parent who worked there, she just used to work there herself and had great LORs (for college), but that did not push her application thru.</p>